Russian President Vladimir Putin stands in his office in the presidential residence at Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow December 6, 2007. Putin’s United Russia party will name its candidate for next year’s presidential election at a congress on December 17, party leader Boris Gryzlov said on Friday. (Photo: REUTERS/RIA-Novosti/Kremlin)

Today: The Communist Party refuse to recognize the election result; the BBC express concern over staff attacks in Moscow; the Russia-NATO Council meets in Brussels; and a leading banker at VTB is found dead at his home.